The sun was already dipping toward the horizon when Ash Aragon stood at the academy's central courtyard, a modest backpack slung over one shoulder, his gaze set toward the gate where escorts were typically organized. Today's mission was part of the Class Evaluation Program a way for students to prove their worth beyond the arena. This time, Ash wouldn't be alone.
Lina arrived not long after, dressed in a standard academy travel uniform, the fabric reinforced for mobility and light protection. She waved gently at him.
"Didn't expect you to accept a mission like this so soon," she said with a mix of surprise and admiration.
Ash offered her a small nod. "It's the fastest route to Class A."
Before Lina could respond, their third member joined them a lean, quiet boy with short brown hair and wire-rimmed glasses named Ren. He was an average Class B student, skilled with logistics and traps, though his combat ability lagged behind.
Their mission: escort a small merchant convoy carrying rare herbs from the outer village of Gensha to the regional capital. Bandit activity had risen in the area, and there were rumors of hired mercenaries targeting caravans. A seemingly simple task… but Ash sensed otherwise.
----
The trio departed shortly before nightfall. Ash took point almost immediately, moving like he knew every step of the forest path ahead which, of course, he didn't. But the instincts from his past life as a Konoha shinobi guided him.
He observed terrain details others might miss: the way the wind shifted through the trees, subtle broken twigs that revealed someone had passed recently, and even the angle of light on disturbed soil. He motioned for the group to adjust course, using silent hand signals that confused Ren but impressed Lina.
"You act like you've done this a hundred times," Lina whispered.
Ash gave a faint smirk. "More than that."
During breaks, he taught Ren how to set effective traps with the environment. He climbed trees in near silence, disappeared into brush, and always seemed to sense danger moments before it became visible. The caravan handlers, at first skeptical of his silent demeanor, started whispering about how "he must be a veteran."
By the second day, Ash had fully taken over leadership, not by words, but by competence.
---
That afternoon, Ash decided to scout ahead. He leapt through the trees, landing silently on thick branches, his movement fluid and weightless. He spotted faint movement a small scouting party, likely bandits watching the convoy.
He narrowed his eyes. His Sharingan activated, the familiar triple tomoe whirring to life in both eyes.
The world slowed. He studied every movement, every twitch of muscle in the enemy's limbs. Calculating their rhythm, he threw a handful of shurikens not at the scouts directly, but at a tree above them. The blades ricocheted, changed trajectory midair, and struck precisely: two embedded into the scouts' legs, pinning them in place.
He dropped silently behind them. "Warn the others again," he said coldly, "and next time, I aim for the neck."
He returned to the convoy before anyone noticed he was gone, blending back in effortlessly.
----
That night, they made camp near a stream. Lina took charge of cooking while Ren kept an eye on the perimeter. Ash sat a little apart, polishing his weapons with quiet focus. The flickering fire danced across his face, revealing how much healthier he looked after weeks of dedicated training. His hair was better kept, and the glow had returned to his dark crimson eyes eyes no one had dared look into for too long.
Lina sat beside him eventually. "You've changed, Ash. I mean that in a good way."
Ash glanced sideways, then back at the fire. "So have you. And I don't resent you for walking ahead. A warrior can't be held back by the weak."
She looked down, guilt flickering across her face. "Still… it means a lot that you don't blame me."
The moment hung in silence, peaceful… until Ren's alarm whistle broke the calm.
----
Ash was on his feet before the whistle ended. He activated the Sharingan in an instant. The night lit up in crimson and detail everything visible in perfect slow-motion clarity.
Six silhouettes emerged from the dark cloaked figures with curved blades and crossbows, their eyes glowing faintly with bloodlust. Mercenaries.
The first bolt flew Ash twisted his body midair, the arrow grazing his coat. Another came from the left he dropped low, letting it whizz past before flinging three shurikens without even looking. They hit with soft thuds disabling hands and disarming weapons.
"W-What the hell are those eyes?!" one of the attackers shouted, backing up in fear.
"They're glowing… like a demon!"
Ash stepped forward, calm as ever, each movement deliberate. In his eyes, they moved sluggishly predictable, foolish. He dodged a wide sword swing with an elegant turn, letting it pass inches from his chest. He grabbed the attacker's wrist, twisted, and broke it with a snap.
One mercenary, shaking, tried to run. Ash's eyes locked onto him the tomoe spun, and the runner froze in confusion, unable to tell where Ash was anymore. A kunai appeared at his throat in the next instant.
By the time Lina and Ren joined the fight, it was already over.
Aftermath and Echoes
Lina stared at Ash, eyes wide. "That was…"
"Efficient," Ash said, his Sharingan fading.
The mercenaries lay unconscious or moaning on the ground. Not a single ally was harmed.
Even the convoy leader, who had fought beside Class A elites before, whispered, "This kid… he's a monster."
Ren just gulped.
Ash ignored their praise. He cleaned his kunai and said, "Let's keep moving. They'll have more."
But in the dark, behind trees, unseen eyes watched. A scout from the ranking board division had followed the team. His mission was to observe and report promising Class B students.
And what he saw tonight would shake the upper circles of the academy.